Government Mixes Messages for Forest Sector

Last week’s government info-mercial found the premier lauding his government for introducing ³tough legislation² for the forest sector rather than more fairly commenting on the industry¹s track record of world-leading good forest management.

Premier Ujjal Dosanjh and his government continue to send mixed messages regarding the forest industry. Last week¹s government info-mercial found the premier lauding his government for introducing ³tough legislation² for the forest sector rather than more fairly commenting on the industry¹s track record of world-leading good forest management. The negative anti-industry spin irked industry leaders while at the same time seeming to contradict recent praise for the forest sector uttered by Forest Minister Gordon Wilson while touring California to drum up business for BC wood. Things are likely to get more ironic as we head into the election. After years of making the forest sector feel like an environmental embarrassment that was only tolerated because of its revenues government will spend an estimated $2.5 million on a provincial media blitz celebrating forestry in B.C. to be launched just before the election.

Industry groups will likely give this campaign a wide berth as they try to make it clear that government policies have been among the worst problems faced by forestry over the past decade.